Mercedes-Benz A150 Classic

BRUCE NEWTON tests the cheapest Benz here in more than 20 years.

Mercedes-Benz A150 Classic

16 March 2011Bruce Newton

A Mercedes-Benz for less than $30,000. Who would have thought only a few years ago? But with the arrival of the second generation A-Class city car, the entry price of the egg-shaped hatchback dips just below that mark.

For $29,900 (plus on-roads) you can get behind the wheel of the cheapest Benz passenger car to go on sale here in more than 20 years, the three-door hatchback A150 Classic.

But while the A150 is the cheapest Benz you can buy, it's not a pauper. Six airbags, traction and stability control, ABS with brake assist, air-conditioning and single CD mean there are some safety and comfort highlights.

But delve deeper and there is something equally significant; an appreciable lift in interior quality and space compared to the old A-Class, as well as a better driving experience.

The original A-Class had its problems when launched in 1997, rolling during a Swedish magazine's swerve-and-recover manoeuvre called the "elk test". As a result Benz had to recall a few thousand cars and introduce fixes including lower and firmer suspension and the standard fitment of an electronic stability control system.

The A-Class still managed 1.1 million sales globally during its seven-year life, including 6900 in Australia.

The second-generation A-Class continues the original's philosophy, evolves the looks, develops the good bits and has a convincing stab at improving the weak points. While the three-door body is new, under the skin it shares the five-door's 145 mm longer wheelbase and much wider front and rear track than the old short-wheelbase version.

An obvious result of that is a more stable on-road stance, an improvement aided by a new rear-axle design and dampers that adjust hydraulically, according to driving style. The non-switchable stability system is an important aid in containing wheelspin and front-end push.

Where the old car was a bit rough and hard, the A150 is firm but with some forgiveness over all but really rough roads.

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It's noticeable on the open road just how quiet and refined the A150 is, with only tyre noise intruding on the coarsest surfaces.

Not surprisingly though, this is no sports star. While body roll is contained despite the tall shape, the electromechanical steering is disappointingly wooden.

Nevertheless, the steering is accurate and quick, and the car's decent turning circle and short 3.838 m length guarantee its city and suburban abilities.

The extra length and width has also improved interior space. There is comfortable seating for four adults and access to the rear is good.

The front seats are bigger and better, while the interior presentation is quite classy and cohesive for the price. It is predominantly dark in the Euro-style but relieved by touches of chrome.

The A150's excellent packaging is achieved with the help of one of the old A-Class' best design features, the sandwich floor. This allows the transverse-mounted engine to be canted way forward so it will slide under the cabin in the event of a front-end collision.

One obvious byproduct of the design is a higher seating position - a boon in the city.

The decision to equip this car only with a five-speed manual gearbox is pragmatic, however, reflecting the 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine's outputs of 70 kW and 140 Nm. This simple single overhead camshaft and two-valve per-cylinder design has only variable inlet manifold and compliance to the stricter EU4 emissions regulations as technical trumps but it's still honest.

It hauls the car's 1210 kg kerb weight around efficiently in town but hills and overtaking are a real issue on the open road. Third gear is often called on to maintain momentum. The upside is the 8.0 L/100 km fuel average achieved on test.

But only being offered with a manual gearbox is enough to put some people off the A150 anyway.

They will shop further up the range for more power, extra doors and the option of a continuously variable transmission.

If those aren't vital requirements then the A150 Classic might be for you.